Convertible dump-car.



No. 69|,|37. Patentd Jan'. |4, |9021.

H. s. HART. CONVERTIBLE DUMP CAR.

(Application led Nov. 6, 190'1.) (No Model.) l e Sheets-sheet l.'

(No'ModeL) Patent@ 1an.. n4, |902.

n. s. HABTQ) CUNVERTIBLE, DUMP CAR.

(Application n led Nov. e, 1901.)

6 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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H. s. mun. CONVERTIBLE DUMP CAB.

Patented lan. I4, |9D2.

(Application tiled Nov. 6, 1901.)

6 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(Nu Model.)

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No. 69,|37. l Patented lan. I4, i902.

H. s. HART. CUNVERTIBLE DUMP CAR.

(Application filed Nov. 6, 1901".)

6 Sheets-Sheet 5.

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No.. 691,137. f Patented lan. I4, |902.

' H. S. HART.

CONVERTIBLE DUMP CAB.

(Application med Nov. e, 1901.)

y (No Manel.)

6 Sheets-Sheetv 6.

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lllnTTien STaTiee FaTnNT Tirion,

HARRY STILLSON HART, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO RODGER BALLAST CAR COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

CONVERTIBLE DUlVlP-fCAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 691,137, dated January 14, 19032. Application filed November 6, 1901. Serial No. 81.284. (No model) .To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, HARRY STILLsoN HART, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Convertible Dump-Cars, of which the following is a specification. p

This invention relates to that class of cars known as convertible-dump-cars, and particularly to the construction by which the car may be converted from one kind of dumpingcar-viz., a car with an [3i-shaped bottom portion arranged longitudinal thereofto a flatbottom gondola car, all of which will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

The principal objectpof the invention is to provide a simple, economical, and efiicient convertible dump-car of such construction and arrangement that it may be used as a dumping-car having an A-shaped bottom portion arranged longitudinally of the car, with the apex substantially in line with the longitudinal center and the leg portion thereof eX- tending downwardly and outwardly to a point outside the supporting-wheels, and in another condition to be used as a gondola car having ailat bottom portion and vertical side and end boards. Further objects of the invention will appear from an examination of the drawings and the following description and claims.

The invention consists principally in a convertible dump-car in which there is combined a supporting frame portion and an A- shaped bottom portion arranged longitudinally of the car, with its amper; substantially at the longitudinal center thereof, the leg portion of which extends downwardly and outwardly to a point substantially outside the supporting-wheels and made of movable sections arranged to be inclined to form the A- shaped portion of a dumping-car in one position and laid in a flat plane to form the flat bottom of a car in another position.

The invention consists, further, in the combination of a frame portion, vertical side and end boards, and an A-shaped hopper portion arranged longitudinally of the car, with its apex at or near the longitudinal center thereof and substantially at the floor-level, the leg portions of which extend downwardly and outwardly to a point substantially outside the vsupporting-wheels of the car and inade in vmovable sections arranged to form the inclined sides of the A-shaped portion when in one position and the dat bottom of a gondola car in another position, substantially as de scribed.

The invention consists, further and finally, in the features, combinations, and details of construction hereinafter described and claimed. I

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a side elevation of a portion of a car constructed in accordance with these improvements; Fig. 2, a plan view of the same looking at it from above and showing one half of the car as it appears when arranged to form a gondola car and the other as it appears when arranged to form an Ashaped dumping-car of the twin-hopper type; Fig. 3, an enlarged sectional elevation ot' one end of the car, taken on line 3 of Fig. 5 and showing the parts arranged to form a hopper-car; Fig. 4, a similar View showing the parts as they appear when arranged to form a gondola car; Fig. 5, a crosssectional view taken on line 5 of Fig.. l looking in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 6, a similar view showing the framework and underpinning of the car, taken on line (i of Fig. A looking in the direction of the arrow; and Fig. 7, a cross-sectional view taken on line '7 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrow and showing the parts as they appear when arranged to form a gondola car.

In the art to which this invention relates it is well known that it is highly desirable to have a car so constructed and arranged that it may be used by the owners thereof to carry different kinds of freight at different times and during different seasons of the yearthat is, to carry material that it is advisable to dump automatically at one time, but so constructed that it may be rearranged into the form of a platform or gondola carto carry another kind of freight at another season of the year-thus rendering it possible for the owners or users to carry the maximum amount of freight and of different .kinds with the minimum number of cars, all of which will be appreciated bywthose skilled in the art.

In illustrating and describing these improvements I have only illustrated and de- IOO scribed those portions or parts which I consider to be new, taken in connection with so much that is old as will properlydisclose the invention to others and enable those skilled in the art to practice the same, leaving out of consideration other andwell-known parts which if illustrated and described herein would only tend to confusion,lproliXity, and ambiguity.

In constructing a dump-car in accordance with these improvements I make a supporting frame portion which is preferably provided with a pair of side sills et ct, three center sills b, end sills c, and cross beams or sills d, all tied, trnssed, and braced together to receive and withstand the shocks incident to the use of the car and distribute the same throughout the proper elements of the car. To provide for the carrying of the load in the car, a pair of vertical side boards e are pro- Y vided, tied together as well as supported by a pair ofv vertical end boards f, all arranged in connection with the bottom portion, hereinafter described, to assist in carrying the different loads in the car. It is now desirable to provide means by which an A-shaped dumping-car of the twin-hopper type may be provided andthe car used as such or converted whenever necessary into a fiat-bottom gondola car. To accomplish this, two inclined bottom boards g and g' are provided, each having a girth h arranged longitudinally thereof, the ends of which are inserted in metallic pockets or sockets t', as shown particularly in Fig. 5, the Whole being arranged at the incline shown in such iigure, so as to form the dumping bottom portion, the apex j of which is arranged at lthe longitudinal center of the car and at or near the bottom portion. To complete the dumping-car and form, as it were, an A-shaped twin-hopper dumping-car, a pair of dumping or discharging doors 7c and k are provided, pivoted or hinged at their upper portions to the side sills of the car and having their free ends, as shown particularly in Fig. 5, brought into juxtaposition with the legs of the A-shaped dumping portion and substantially outside of the supporting-wheels Z of the car. To hold these discharging-doors in position, a pair of chains m and rock-shafts n are provided, which act to hold the doors locked in their closed position or permit them to be opened for dumping or discharging purposes. This arrangement provides a serviceable and economical car for dumping the entire load of the car outside of the supporting-wheels.

To convert the car into a fiat-bottom gondola car, the inclined boards of the A-shaped central portion are made movable, so that they may be raised or lifted out and then laid back in the flat plane, as shown in Fig. 5, so that the ends of the girths 'h rest in pockets p and form, as it were, supplementary or intermediate sills to assist in carrying the load. By the arrangement shown in Fig. 7 it will be seen that a flat-bottom gondola car is provided.

To form inclined ends for the dumpingcar or fiat bottom for the gondola car, end portions are provided and made of inclined boards q, hinged to the cross-beams of the car and supported at the desired incline by means of struts r. All that is necessary to do to form the flat bottom is to move the strut by removing one of its bolts and laying it in a horizontal plane and at the same time to drop the inclined board in a flat plane, as shown in Fig. 4. The lower end of this inclined board is made double--that is, it has a convertible part t arranged to be laid back on the board when forming the incline (shown in Fig. 3) orto be opened and laid in a flat plane, as shown in Fig. V4.

I claim- 1. In a convertible dump-car, the combination of a supporting frame portion and an A- shaped bottom portion arranged longitudinally of the car with its apex substantially at the longitudinal center thereof the leg portions of which extend downwardly and outwardly to a point substantially outside the supporting-wheels and made of movable sections arranged to be inclined to form the A- shaped portion of a dumping-car in one position and laid in a flat plane to form the fiat bottom of a car in another position, substantially as described.

2. In a convertible du mp-car, the combination of a frame portion, vertical side and end boards, and an A-shaped hopper portion arranged longitudinally of the car with its apex at or near the longitudinal center thereof and substantially at the floor-level the leg portions of which extend downwardly and outwardly to a point substantially outside the supporting-wheels of the car and made in movable sections arranged to form the inclined sides of the A-vshaped portion when in one position and the fiat bottom of a gondola car in another position, substantially as described.

3. In a convertible dump-car, the combination of a supporting frame portion provided with vertical side and end boards,an A-shaped bottom portion arranged longitudinal of the car with its apex at or near the longitudinal center thereof and substantially at the floor- IOO IIO

level the leg portions of which extend downtion of a frame portion provided with vertical side and end boards, an A-shaped bottom portion arranged longitudinally of the ear with its apex at or near the longitudinal center thereof and substantially at the floor-level the leg portions of which extend downwardly and outwardly to a point substantially outside the supporting-wheels and made in movable sections arranged to forni the inclined boards of the A-shaped portion in one position and the flat bottom of a gondola car in another position, and longitudinal girths secured to such movable sections for supporting them in both positions, substantially as described.

5. In a convertible du nip-car, the combination of a frame portion provided with vertical side and end boards, an A-shaped bottom portion arranged longitudinally of the car with its apex at or near the longitudinal center thereof and substantially at the Hoor-level Ithe leg portions ot' which extend downwardly and outwardly to a point substantially outside the supporting-wheels and made in movable sections arranged to form the inclined boards of the A-shaped section in one position and the fiat bottom oi the gondola carin another position, movable end boards arranged when in one position to form the inclined ends of a hopper-car and adapted to be laid in a iiat plane in another position to form a portionvof a flat-bottom car, and a foldable portion on such end boards adapted to be opened and laid in a flat plane to complete the bottom portion of a Hat-bottom oar, substantially as described.

6. In a convertible dump-car, the combination of a frame portion provided with vertical side and end boards, an A-shaped bottom portion arranged longitudinally of the car With its apex at or near the longitudinal center thereof and substantially at the Hoor-level the leg portions of which extend downwardly and outwardly to a point substantially outside the supporting-wheels and made in movable sections arranged to form the inclined boards of the A-shaped section in one position and the iiat bottom of a gondola car in another position, movable end boards arranged when in one position to form the neliued ends of a hopper-car and adapted to be laid in a flat plane in another position to form a portion of a flat-bottom car, a foldable portion on such end boards adapted to be opened and laid in a ilat plane to complete the bottom portion of a Hat-bottom car, and swinging hopper boards depending downwardly from the car-frame to meet the legs of the A-shaped bottom portion and complete a pair of twin hoppers, substantially as described.

HARRY sriLLsoN HART.

Witnesses:

THOMAS FRANCIS SHERIDAN, HARRY IRWIN CROMRR. 

